Walking-ladder



(No Model.) 5

J. AVERY. WALKING LADDER.

Izzvzzior.

wziness e6 MAJ ANDREW J. AVERY, OF SACO, MAINE.

WALKING-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,557, datedSeptember 29, 1896.

Application filed February 14, 1896- serial 579,250. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. AVERY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Saco, in the county of York and State of Maine, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in 'Walking-Ladders; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same' My inventionrelates to improvements in walking-ladders. It is designed to enable aperson while standing on the ladder to move it about from place toplace.

In the drawings herewith accompanying and making a part of thisapplication, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my ladder. Fig. 2 is adetail view showing sleeve and ratchet mechanism. Fig. 3 is across-section of the standard, sleeve, and spline; and Fig. at is adetail sectional view showing universal joint for foot of standards.

Same letters refer to like parts.

In said drawings, A represents standards, B racks on the sides of saidstandards, and Q sleeves splined on said standards and adapted to slideupand down thereon. Rigidly secured to said sleeves are foot-supports D,which are connected together by link E.

Said sleeves are provided with set-screws F and with spring-controlledpivoted pawls G, which are held normally in engagement with the racks onthe standards by springs H. Pivotally secured to the standards near thetop are rearwardly-extended braces I, and pivotally secured to thesleeves are laterallyextended braces J. Near the top are springof theuprights may be formed with a universal joint 0 and with extended bars Pto aiford great stability. The universal joint is ladder is beingoperated in the field when the surface is uneven.

The operation of my improved device is as follows: The foot-supports aredrawn down near enough to the bottom of the standards to enable a personto step into them. Once in position he raises each foot alternately, andwith it the foot-supports, until he reaches the required height. He maythen use the device in the nature of stilts, walking about at will. Therearwardly-extended braces drag loosely upon the ground or floor, as thecase may be, when moving forward, and serving as braces when at rest. Ifit is desired to have greater stability, the lateral braces are letdown, thus afiording a very strong support. To lower the foot-supports,the ratchet is withdrawn from the rack on one side and its supportlowered a convenient distance, and then the other side, and so onalternately.

Having thus described my invention and its use, I claim-- 1. Inawalking-ladder, suitable standards having racks in the sides thereof,verticallyadjustable sleeves mounted on said standards and carryingfoot-supports rigidly secured thereto, a pivoted link connecting saidfoot supports and spring controlled pawls adapted to engage said racksand support said sleeves on said standards when in their normalposition, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a walking-ladder, suitable standards having racks in the sidesthereof, sleeves vertically adjustable on said standards, said sleevescarrying foot-supports and springcontrolled pawls adapted to engage saidracks and a link pivotally connecting said footsupports, in combinationwith rearwardlyextended braces pivotally secured to the tops of saidstandards, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a walking-ladder, suitable standards, vertically-adjustablesleeves on said standards, foot-supports on said sleeves and a linkpivotally connecting said foot-supports, in combination withlateral1y-extended braces pivotally secured to said sleeves.

i. In a walking-ladder, suitable standards,

vertically-adjustable foot-supports on said I00 50 not necessary, but isconvenient when the standards, a pivoted link connecting said inpresence of two witnesses, this 12th day of supports, braces for saidstandards and alim- February, 1896.

ited ball-and-soeket-j oint connection between r the lower extremitiesof said standards and ANDREV AVERY 5 base-bars, substantially as and forthe pur- Witnesses:

poses set forth. ELGIN O. VERRILL,

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, W'ILLIAM I'I. CLIFFORD, Jr.

